Auger shaft



H. E. sATRE AUGER SHAFT Dec. 2 7, 1938.

Original Filed May 5, 19:54

2 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 27, 193s.- H. E. SATRE AUGER SHAFT Original Filed May 5, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 27, 1938 UNETED STATES PATEN'E QFFHQE AUGER SHAFT nois Application May 5, 1934, Serial No. 724,130 Renewed December 11, 1937 3 Claims.

This invention pertains to boring apparatus and has particular reference to the lead and operating shaft for rotating the boring auger and guiding the same vertically in its operation and also in its ascent to dumping position and its descent to operating position; more especially the invention relates to the provision therein for adjustability as to length to accommodate the gradually deepening bore of the hole being excavated.

With these objects in view I provide a sectional shaft. the sections readily coupled together and firmly held in assembled relation, said shaft sections provided with aligned ribs or grooves for cooperation with a corresponding groove or rib carried by the auger bucket, forming a spline-d coupling to provide a positive connection against relative. angular movement whereby to rotate the auger with the shaft while permitting of free sliding movement of the auger on the shaft in its ascent and descent.

In order to facilitate an understanding of the invention a preferred embodiment .of the same is set forth in the following detailed description predicated upon the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a sectional view through a boring auger in assembled relation to the driving and guiding shaft;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation partly in section showing adjacent ends of shaft sections when separated;

Fig. 3 is a medial longitudinal section through adjacent ends of the shaft section assembled;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a top plan View of a shaft section on the line 55 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a transverse section through the shaft intermediate the joints;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the shaft shown in Figs. 1 to 6;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged view, broken, showing in side elevation and section means for coupling the sections and attaching the guiding ribs;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the upper coupling section slightly modified from that shown in Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is a transverse section on the line Ill-l 0 of Fig. 9 with the coupling bolts omitted; and

Fig. 11 is a side elevation of Fig. 10 broken away to show the coupling bolts in place.

This application is a continuation in part of my copending application Serial No. 517,845, now

Patent No. 1,998,591, granted April 23, 1935, under a requirement for division.

The structure of the auger bucket l l forms no essential part of the present invention but is of the rotary type with bottom cutters l2 whereby the excavated material is fed into the bucket interior for hoisting and dumping at intervals. The bucket is here shown for the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the relation of such a bucket to the lead shaft which forms the subject matter of the present application.

The lead shaft as shown in this case comprises a plurality of sections l3 having longitudinally extending ribs it and the lowermost section provided with a boring bit i5 which serves to feed the shaft downwardly under its own weight and to serve as an anchorage for the bottom of the shaft to prevent lateral displacement.

The upper end of each shaft section is cored out to form a cavity l6 marginally surrounded by a turreted construction, alternating projections H and intermediate notches E8. The lower end of each section, other than the lowermost provided with the bit [5, presents a complementary structure with projections l7 and intermediate notches l8 for interfitting with the corresponding turreted upper end of the next lower section and is likewise cored out to form a cavity I 6. A plug member I9 is arranged to fit within each of the cavities N5 of the adjacent shaft sections and is apertured at 20 to register with corresponding apertures 2| in the shaft section whereby coupling bolts 22 may be placed in the apertures and thus transfix and rigidly connect the two shaft sections with the coupling plug.

These connecting bolts may be plain and driven into place after the manner of rivets as shown in Figs. 3 and 4., having their outer ends flush with the outer edge of the ribs I 4 and may be provided with set screws 23 as a further safeguard against loosening; or, as shown in Fig. 6, the ribs l4 may be connected with the plug I9 by lag bolts 24 extending through the ribs and the shell I3 of the shaft into the plug l9.

The plug is of the uppermost section has connected therewith a coupling member 25 swiveled thereto by means of which a cable 26 is attached. This swivel connection permits the shaft to be rotated for facilitating its own progress downwardly and also for operating the auger, as set forth for instance in my copending application above referred to, without twisting the cable 26.

As shown in Fig. 8, the plug 69 may be connected with the hollowed end portions I6 of the shaft I3 by threaded bolts 21, the heads of which as well as the nuts 28 and lock washers 28a are seated within recesses 29 of the ribs l4.

Having reference to Figs. 9, 10 and 11, the ribs are omitted and instead grooves 30 are provided within which corresponding projections on the auger bucket slide and interlock against angular movement. The coupling connection between the plug l9 and the adjacent shaft ends are similar to that previously described with reference to Figs. 1 to 8 but in this case the apertures 20 are preferably arranged at right angles to the grooves 30 and transfixing bolts 3| disposed within the sleeves 32 are employed similar to the connecting bolts in Fig. 8 save that the nuts 28 and the washers 28a are accommodated within recesses 33 in the wall of the shaft l3.

It is to be observed that the ribs I4 are not an integral part of the shaft I3 but are seated in grooves formed in the shaft and removable for replacement. The wear, as the bucket slides on the shaft, is primarily and almost exclusively on the ribs rather than the shaft body, and as the results of wear become serious the ribs only need be replaced instead of installing a new shaft at great expense. Moreover the ribs within the grooves constitute a very efficient reinforcement of the shaft against fiexure.

I claim:

1. A sectional auger guiding and driving shaft for a machine of the character described, comprising a plurality of shaft sections having their circumferential surface interrupted by oppositely disposed longitudinally extending guiding ribs, the shaft sections hollowed at their adjacent ends with their terminal edges provided with interfitting projections and notches whereby to prevent relative rotation of the adjacent shaft sections and to align the ribs, a plug member arranged within the hollow portions of the shaft sections to bridge the interfitting projections,

and securing elements extending transversely of the plug member and the shaft sections and into the ribs, the ribs being replaceable.

2. A sectional auger guiding and driving shaft for a machine of the character described, comprising a plurality of shaft sections having their circumferential surface interrupted by oppositely disposed longitudinally extending grooves, guiding ribs removably secured within the grooves, the shaft sections hollowed at their adjacent ends with their terminal edges provided with interfitting projections and notches whereby to prevent relative rotation of the adjacent shaft sections and to align the grooves, a plug member arranged within the hollow portions of the shaft sections to bridge the interfitting projections, and securing elements extending transversely of the plug member and the shaft sections, said securing elements anchored at their ends to prevent shifting.

3. The combination with an excavating auger bucket, of means for guiding and rotating said bucket and compensating for downward progress comprising a sectional shaft having at its lower end a guiding bit and at its upper end a swivel connection for a suspending cable, said sectional guiding and driving shaft consisting of a plurality of units hollow at their adjacent ends and with their ends turreted to provide interfitting projections and notches having side walls, and a joining plug member arranged within the hollow portions of the shaft sections and bridging the joint between adjacent sections, with bolts ex tending transversely of the plug members and shaft sections, the shaft being grooved and provided with reinforcing driving means comprising ribs seated within the grooves and removably anchored therein by the said'bolts and by other bolts intermediate the length of the shaft units.

HILL/[AR E. SATRE. 

